BleedGopher
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per CBS:
What we do know, however, is that for the first time in school history, Whitman and Illinois are making the investment financially that says they want to be a real contender in the Big Ten. We'll start with the contract Smith received. Over the course of his six-year deal, Lovie Smith will be paid $21 million -- $3.5 million per year.
That number in itself doesn't put Smith at the top of the Big Ten as Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh, James Franklin, Kirk Ferentz and Mark Dantonio all made more last season. When compared to how Illinois typically spends on its coaches, though, it came as quite the shock.
When Illinois hired Tim Beckman -- the coach Smith is essentially replacing -- before the 2012 season, it gave him $9 million over five years ($1.8 million per). Smith will be making nearly twice as much annually.
And then there's the money Illinois is giving Smith to put together his coaching staff. Smith has been given $4 million to work with on his staff, and he's already started putting that money to use, reportedly hiring Garrick McGee away from Louisville to be his offensive coordinator and pulling other coaches from NFL jobs to join him in Champaign.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...-for-starting-to-spend-money-like-a-contender
Go Gophers!!
What we do know, however, is that for the first time in school history, Whitman and Illinois are making the investment financially that says they want to be a real contender in the Big Ten. We'll start with the contract Smith received. Over the course of his six-year deal, Lovie Smith will be paid $21 million -- $3.5 million per year.
That number in itself doesn't put Smith at the top of the Big Ten as Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh, James Franklin, Kirk Ferentz and Mark Dantonio all made more last season. When compared to how Illinois typically spends on its coaches, though, it came as quite the shock.
When Illinois hired Tim Beckman -- the coach Smith is essentially replacing -- before the 2012 season, it gave him $9 million over five years ($1.8 million per). Smith will be making nearly twice as much annually.
And then there's the money Illinois is giving Smith to put together his coaching staff. Smith has been given $4 million to work with on his staff, and he's already started putting that money to use, reportedly hiring Garrick McGee away from Louisville to be his offensive coordinator and pulling other coaches from NFL jobs to join him in Champaign.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...-for-starting-to-spend-money-like-a-contender
Go Gophers!!
